Friday, June 17, 2016

It is June and we all know what that
means—it’s coming up to the day we celebrate our dads and grandads, or any
other influential male in our lives, it’s Father’s Day!

Father’s Day originated back in 1909 when a
young lady was in church listening to a Mother’s Day sermon and thought that
dads should be celebrated as well. Although it is celebrated on different days
around the world, the most popular day for this occasion is the third Sunday in
June, which this year is June 19th. The day is not only used to
thank our dads for all they do for us throughout the year, but also to reflect
on the influence of dads in our society and how they help shape the leaders of
tomorrow.

Dads come in all shapes and sizes and have
different tastes. Fortunately in and around Calgary this year, there are a lot
of different things to do to celebrate the day, and something sure to please
all dads:

Is your dad a plane enthusiast? If so
you’ll want to take him to the 5th Annual Wings and Wheels event
this Father’s Day weekend at the Aero Space Museum of Calgary located at 4629
McCall Way in the NE. Dads get free admission when being accompanied by a paid
admission and can check out the vintage vehicles, the open cockpits and even
take a helicopter tour of the city (with an extra charge).There are fun activities for the kids too of
course, and the fun goes both weekend days from 10-3.

Is your dad an amusement park aficionado?
If so, you’ll want to head on over to Calgary’s own Calaway Park where dads
(and granddads) can enjoy free admission when they show up with a kid (or two!)
It is Rad Dad day on Father’s Day at the park, so enjoy the rides, the shows
and all the games and food you can handle, all day from 10-7.

Does your dad adore horses? If the answer
is a resounding yes, you’ll want to go to Spruce Meadows this Father’s Day or
any day between June 15-19 for the Continental. Admission is free and once
there you can watch professional show jumping in a relaxed environment, tour
the grounds, shop and eat and let the kids play on the playground equipment,
take a pony ride and/or have their face painted, all in the family friendly
atmosphere.

If your dad loves trains, and you want a
little Sunday drive to boot, you won’t want to miss Train Days at AspenCrossing in Mossleigh (around 40 miles SE of Calgary on Highway 24). The fun
takes over both days this weekend from 10-4 both days and not only can dad take
in the sights of the model train displays which feature G scale trains, but you
can also take him on a full size train for an hour ride through Aspen Crossing.
There is also a pancake breakfast from 9-12 noon, and a Father’s Day brunch
offered on an 1887 Pullman Dining Car with seatings that can be booked anytime
from 9am-3pm for your convenience. General admission is $20 for adults and $10
for kids, and there is a charge of $25 for adults and $15 for kids for the
train tour. The buffet is $22.95 for adults and there is also a charge for the
pancake breakfast.

Is dad an avid runner? If so there are
several runs and walks taking place on Father’s Day weekend. One such run is
the Trico Father’s Day Walk on June 19th from 1-2:30pm. It is a 4K
walk that the family can enjoy together and you can even try out walking poles
if you’d like to see how they feel. This is a free event that is sponsored by
#GetMovingYYC and it all starts at the Trico Center for Family Wellness which
is located at 11150 Bonaventure Drive in the SE.

Another run is the Do it for Dad event to
benefit prostate cancer. This is a 5K run/walk that starts at Eau Claire Market
with registration at 8am and the run/walk commencing at 10am this Father’s Day,
June 19.

Is your dad your hero? If so, take him to
the Calgary Farmer’s Market this Saturday, June 18th for the SuperDad Lounge. He can enjoy a free massage, grab a snack pack and watch the kids
as they create and then present their very own craft just for him. There is
also going to be prize draws and a family photo opportunity. Everything is free
but for the family photo, a donation to the Calgary Food Bank is gladly
accepted.

Does dad love the great outdoors? If so,
take him to Ralph Klein Park this Father’s Day for free activities which all
gets under way at 1pm. There will be guided nature walks, pond dipping, face
painting for the kids and nature crafts plus a whole lot more. Best of all, dad
can enjoy being outside not only with nature but the whole family too.

If dad or granddad loves loud music and
marching bands then McMahon Stadium is the place to be on June 19th
starting at 2pm. For $10 general
admission you can take dad to celebrate music, marching bands and the
performing arts as you listen to the Calgary Round Up Band, and the Calgary
Stetson Show Band perform. It is a Celebration of Sound that is fun for all.

Does dad love history? If so, he can take a
cemetery tour on Sunday between 2-3pm. This tour will explain the history and
life of some of Calgary’s founding individuals and is billed as a walk through
time. It takes place at Union Cemetery in the SE, but starts at the Galloway
House just across the street.

Is your dad one with a daddy’s girl? Then a
trip to Airdrie is in order this Saturday, July 18 so daddy and daughter can
have some fun while dad learns how to do simple pony tails and braids in his
daughter’s hair. The fun starts at 11 and there is also a barbeque, face
painting and other activities, all with donations to Airdrie Angel, a community
group that quietly gives those in need a little help. It happens at the CIBC in Sierra Springs.

What do dads want for Father’s Day? Fancy
car, nice trip, yet another tie? Well, yes, probably, but all kidding aside,
dads just want to enjoy their day with the ones that matter the most—their
family. Whatever you choose to do with dad this weekend have fun and make lots
of memories along the way!